Hewlett-Packard & the NSW Minister for Environment and Conservation Publicly Commit to the Active Promotion of Environmental Sustainability

Hewlett-Packard Australia and the NSW Environment and Conservation Minister Hon Bob Debus has announced HP’s Sustainability Compact agreement.

The Compact,commits NSW and HP for three years to advance sustainability practices across HP’s facilities, operations and supply chain, and to seek out and promote sustainability opportunities across the NSW Government and community.

Paul Brandling, Managing Director, HP Australia, said “Apart from being a first for the NSW Government, this compact is also the first partnership of its kind for HP globally. HP Australia is extremely proud to be undertaking such a landmark commitment.”

In signing the compact HP and the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) are jointly committing to; strategic sustainability planning and reporting; staff and other stakeholder involvement in environmental planning, training and project delivery; product stewardship programs for IT product take-back relating to computer hardware, printer supplies (consumables) and packaging; environmentally preferable IT purchasing by consumers, business and government; enhanced environmental performance of HP and DEC sites and operations, including resource efficiency, waste avoidance and recovery and other aspects of facilities management

A steering committee will be established to manage the implementation of the Compact and to formally review progress on an annual basis. An independent evaluation of the Compact’s success will be completed in 2008, when the Compact will also be open for renewal following agreement by both parties.

Annukka Sairanen, Environmental Manager HP South Pacific said it is a natural progression of HP’s Global Citizenship commitment in which the environmental sustainability program is a core strategic initiative. “I’m particularly pleased about today’s announcement, as from our perspective the sustainability compact is an example of true partnership that is built on the principle of shared responsibility,” says Sairanen.

HP Australia has been active in promoting sustainability in the community, taking a leadership role in the development of sustainability initiatives that include end-of-life computer hardware and printing supplies recovery and recycling programs.  These efforts have contributed to HP’s AA rating by independent Corporate Social Responsibility ratings company Reputex.

“Signing this Compact with the NSW Government is another public commitment that we are making to continually improve our environmental performance across all areas of our business.  Combined with our signing of the National Packaging Covenant, this represents a bold statement of the willingness of industry and government to work constructively in the interests of the environment,” Ms Sairanen said.